Wheel straightener



May 5, 1942. L. M. DANIEL WHEEL STRAIGHTENER Filed Jan. 16, 1941 Patented May 5, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WHEEL STRAIGHTENER Lawrence M. Daniel, Spokane, Wash. Application January 16, 1941, Serial No. 374,762

. 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a wheel straightener and it is one object of the invention to provide a device of this character by the use of which a wheel which has become bent may be straightened and trued and restored to condition for use.

Another object of the invention is to so form the straightener that a wheel placed thereon may be firmly held stationary while pressure is applied thereto to straighten the wheel, the wheel being so mounted that when relieved of pressure it may be turned about a vertical axis to ascertain if it has been properly straightened or needs truing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the wheel may be held stationary by fluid pressure or by manually operated means, the means for applying straightening pressure to the wheel being fluid operated and capable of applying high pressure to the wheel when necessary and of gradually increasing or diminishing the pressure as necessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide awheel straightener wherein the fluid operated means for holding the wheel stationary and applying straightening pressure thereto includes pistons mounted in chambers of a cylindrical casing disposed vertically in the base of the apparatus and suspended from the top thereof where it will be shielded and protected from damage.

Another object of the invention is to provide 2 an apparatus of this character which is simple in construction, compact, and efficient inoperation. v

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved wheel straightener, a wheel applied thereto being shown in section. I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken vertically through the straightener, on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through a valve, on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a pressure bar. The improved wheel straightener constituting the subject matter of this invention has a hollow base I formed of strong metal and provided with a bottom 2 carrying cleats 3 secured to arms 4 of the base by bolts or screws 5. The head or upper portion 6 of the base tapers upwardly and from its center rises a neck 1 formed with longitudinally ex en g sl ts, Th upper end porthe line tion of the neck is reduced to form a tubular stem 9 and an annular shoulder about the lower end thereof, the shoulder constituting the upper face of the head ll of the neck. The head is externally reduced to provide a reduced portion I2 and a shoulder [3 which extends circumferentially about the neck. A sleeve l4 fits snugly about the reduced upper portion l2 of the head I l with its lower edge resting on the shoulder l3 and its upper portion projecting from the head and constituting'a retainer for a thrust bearing 14. This bearing rests on-the shoulder 10 and. upon the upper plate of the thrust bearing rests a plate carrying a suitable number of upstanding pins [5 for passing through the bolt holes of a wheel ll. After the wheel has been set in place, a plate i8 is fitted about the protruding-upper portion of the stem 9 and rests on the wheel-in covering relation to the pins. Since the sleeve 14 has its upper edge terminating intermediate the thickness of the plate 15 and fits loosely about this plate, the wheel is free to rotate with the thrust bearing before securing pressure is applied to wheel.

A cylinder [8. extends vertically in the base and has arms l8 extending from its upper end and bolted against the top 6 of the base so that the cylinder or casing will be well supported and protected from damage. Upper and lower ends of the casing are closed by removable heads and 2| carrying packing glands 22 and 23 and the casing is divided into upper and lower chambers 24 and 25 by a partition 26 carrying a packinggland 21. A piston 23 is slidable vertically in the upper chamber 24 and has a tubular shank 29 extending upwardly therefrom through the packing gland 22 and into the lower end of neck T where it is bolted to a disc 30 having its periphery boltedto the lower end of a sleeve 3|. This sleeve is slidable vertically in the neck and is connected. with an outer sleeve or collar 32 by screws '33 which pass through the slots 8 and carry spacers 34 so that the screws may be tightened'but not interfere with free sliding of the sleeve and collar. The collar is externally thickened, as shown at 35 and 36, to provide shoulders 31 and'38 constituting abutments for bars 39 which, when applied, have their upper ends bearing againstportions of the wheel to be straightened and it will be understood that when the collar is forced upwardly against a wheel which is held stationary, pressure will be applied to the wheel with such force that bent portions will be straightened. The bars are each formed as shown i g. a d r fe ng o t figu e,

it will be seen that the bar is of greater width than thickness and has its lower end 40 curved to fit the portion of the collar against which it bears and its outer end 4| curved to fit the portion of the wheel against which it bears. While but one bar has been shown in Figs. 1 and 2 it is to be understood that additional bars of various lengths will be provided for the apparatus and selectively used during a straightening operation. The bars may rest on either shoulder 31 or shoulder 38 of the collar when in use, according to the portion of the wheel which must be straightened. If found necessary, an auxiliary jack 43 may be used and set in place with its base resting on the top 6 of the case l and the upper end of its plunger bearing against the wheel, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to hold the wheel firmly in place and prevent rotation thereof after being applied and turned to convenient position for straightening, there has been provided a rod 44 which extends vertically through the casing I8 and also through the sleeve 3| and stem 9, with its upper portion protruding from the stem and its lower portion protruding from the bottom of the easing. The packing glands 23, 21 and 45 provide tight joints about the stem and prevent air under pressure in the chambers 24 and from leaking out around the rod. A cap or nut 46 is threaded on the upper end of rod. 44 and is of such length that its lower end will rest on the disc or plate I8. Therefore, when the rod is shifted downwardl the nut will frictionally grip the plate I8 and pressure applied so that the wheel will be held against turning about the stem 9. The lower end portion of the rod passes through the eye 41 of a treadle bar 48 and is formed with a cross head 49 which engages in seats '50 formed in side walls of the eye 41. The inner end of the treadle bar is formed with a hook or bill 5| which engages through an anchor or bearing bracket 52 so that when pressure is applied to the pedal plate 52 at the outer end of the treadle bar, this treadle bar will be shifted downwardly through the slot 54 formed in one of the arms 4 and downward pull exerted on the rod to shift the rod and nut downwardly and firmly secure the wheel stationary. A lug or tooth 55 is provided at one side of the treadle bar for engaging the rack 56 and holding the treadle bar depressed, it being understood that the treadle bar is allowed suiiicient side play for movement into and out of engagement with the rack. By this arrangement the rod 44 may be manually shifted downwardly and releasably secured.

After the rod has been shifted downwardly to hold the Wheel stationary, the piston 28, toether with its shank 29 and sleeve 3|, are to be shifted upwardly so that the collar 31 will be carried upwardly and straightening pressure exerted on the wheel by the bars 39. ,This is done by air pressure and, in order to control flow of air into and out of the chamber 24 above and below the piston 28, there has been provided a valve 51. This valve receives air from a storage tank or other source of supply through a pipe connected with the outer end of pipe 58. A pipe 59 leads from the valve to the upper end of chamber 24 and another pipe 60 connects the valve with the lower end of the chamber. The plug SI of the valve is formed with arcuate passages BI and B2 and when the handle 63 of the valve is grasped and the plug turned to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, compressed ass-2,1 18

air will be delivered to the lower portion of chamber 24 to shift the piston upwardly and air in the upper portion of the chamber will flow out through pipe 59 and through passage Bl to the outlet 64 of the valve. When the plug 6! is turned to adjusted position disposing the passages as indicated by dotted lines, air under pressure will be delivered into the upper portion of the chamber to shift the piston downwardly and air in the lower portion of the chamber will flow through pipe 50 and passage 62 to the valve outlet. When the piston is in its lowered position, the bars 39 may be set in place or removed and, as the piston is shifted upwardly, the collar will apply upward thrust to the bars and straightening pressure be applied to a bent portion of a wheel.

A second valve 65, which is a duplicate of valve 51, is mounted at the opposite side of the base I and compressed air is supplied to this valve through pipe 68.. The lower port of the valve is connected with. the lower end of chamber 25 by a pipe 6.1 corresponding to pipe 60 and a pipe'68, corresponding to pipe 59', connects the" upper port of the valve with the upper end of this chamber. Air entering chamber 25 through pipe 61 will act on the piston 68 carried by rod 44', to shift the rod downwardly and cause the wheel to be held stationary while bends are removed and, when the valve 65 is adjusted to deliver air through pipe 61 into the lower portion of the chamber, the rod will be shifted upwardly to release the wheel and permit the wheel to be turned freely about the stem. A auge may then be used to ascertain if the wheel is true and if it is found that additional bending is necessary, the wheel'will again be secured stationary and bending force applied thereto. It will be understood that'when the rod is shifted vertically by air pressure, the treadle bar 48 will be shifted upwardly and its'tooth engaged, with the rack 56 to hold it in raised position, where it will not interfere with movement of the rod.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a wheel straightener, a support, a neck and stem carried'by said support for rotatably mounting a wheel, means associated with and movable longitudinally of the neck and the stem into and out of position for clamping the wheel stationary against the end of the neck, manually actuated operatingmeans for the wheel securing means, fluid actuated operating means for the wheel securing means, fluid operated means associated with the neck and movable longitudinally thereof into position for applying straightening force to a wheel 'held stationary at the end of the neck, and valves for controlling operation of the wheel securing means and the straightening means.

2. In a wheel straightener, a support, means carried by said support for rotatably mounting a wheel, a rod shiftable longitudinallythrough the wheel mounting means, a Wheel engaging member carried by said rod and movable therewith into and out of position for clamping a wheel against the mounting means and holding the wheel stationary, manually operated'means for shifting the rod longitudinally, fluid operated means for shifting the rod longitudinally. and means slidably carried by said support about and concentric to the rod for applying straightening force to a wheel.

3 In a Wheel straightener, a support, means carried by said support for rotatably mounting a wheel at the upper end of the support, a rod shiftable longitudinally through the wheel mounting means, a wheel engaging member carried by said rod and movable therewith into and out of position for clampingthe wheel against the upper end of-the support and securing the wheel stationary, fluid operated means for shifting said rod, fluid operated means carried by said support concentric to thero'd and shiftable longitudinally of the rod for applying straightening forces to a wheel, and valves for c'ontrol-' ling operation of the rod shifting means and the straightening means.

4. In a wheel straightener, a support, a neck carried thereby, a stem carried by said neck for rotatably mounting a wheel upon the upper end of the neck, a rod shiftable vertically through the stem and support with its upper end portion projecting from the stem, a gripper carried by the projecting upper end of said rod and shiftable therewith into and out of position to bear against the wheel about the stem and clamp the wheel stationary, a collar about said neck shiftable vertically thereon toward and away from a wheel secured upon the upper end of the neck by the gripper, means for shifting the rod downwardly and moving the gripper into position to rest upon the wheel about the stem and cause the wheel to be clamped between the gripper and the upper end of the neck and held stationary, fluid operated means for shifting the collar upwardly toward the wheel, and means cooperating with said collar for applying straightening force to the wheel when the collar is shifted toward the wheel.

5. In a wheel straightener, a support, a neck carried thereby, a stem extending upwardly from said neck for rotatably mounting a wheel upon the upper end of the neck, a rod shiftable vertically through the stem and the support, a gripper carried by the upper end of said rod and fitting loosely about the stem and shiftable with the rod into and out of position for applying clamping pressure to the wheel over the upper end of the neck and securing the wheel stationary, a collar about said neck shiftable longitudinally thereon toward and away from a wheel, a cylinder extending vertically in said support with the rod slidable longitudnally through the cylinder, a piston in said cylinder having a shank extending upwardly therefrom about the rod, means connecting the shank with said collar for shifting the collar vertically with the piston toward and away from the wheel, means for controlling flow of fluid under pressure into and out of the cylinder for acting upon the piston and moving the piston and its shank to efiect movetill ment of the collar along the neck, and means cooperating with the collar for applying straightening force to the wheel as the collar moves toward the wheel.

6. In a wheel straightener, a support, a neck extending upwardly from the support, a tubular stem extending upwardly from said neck for rotatably mounting a wheel upon the upper end of the neck, a rod shiftable vertically through the stem and support, a gripper carried by said rod and fitting loosely about the stem and moving with the rod into and out of position for applying downward gripping pressure to the portion of the wheel over the upper end of the neck and securing the wheel stationary, a collar about said neck shiftable longitudinally thereon toward and away from a wheel, a cylinder mounted vertically in said support with the rod slidable longitudinally through the cylinder, a piston in said cylinder having a tubular shank extending upwardly therefrom about the rod, a sleeve slidable longitudinally in said neck and connected with the upper end of said shank, fasteners passing through openings formed in said neck and connecting the collar with the sleeve to cause movement Of the collar with the sleeve, valve controlled means for controlling flow of fluid under pressure into and out of the cylinder and directing verticatmovement of the piston and the collar, and means actuated by upward movement 'of said collar for applying straightening force to the wheel as the collar moves upwardly toward the wheel.

7. In a wheel straightener, a support, a neck extending upwardly therefrom, a stem extending upwardly from said neck for rotatably mounting a wheel upon the upper end of the neck, a rod shiftable vertically through the stem andsupport, a gripper carried by the upper end of said rod and shiftable vertically therewith into and out of position for applying downward pressure and securing a wheel stationary against the upper end of the neck, a collar about said neck shiftable vertically thereon toward and away from a wheel, a cylinder carried by said support with the rod slidable longitudinally through the cylinder, said cylinder having upper and lower chambers, a piston in the upper chamber, a tubular shank for said piston extending upwardly out of the cylinder about the rod, a sleeve in said neck secured to the upper end of the shank for movement therewith, valve controlled means for controlling flow of fluid under pressure through the upper chamber and shifting of the piston, a piston carried by the rod within the lower chamber, and valve controlled means for controlling flow of fluid under pressure through the lower chamber and shifting of the rod longitudinally and moving the gripper into and out of position for applying clamping pressure upon the wheel and securing the wheel stationary.

8. In a wheel straightener, a support, an upstanding neck carried thereby, a stem extending upwardly from said neck for rotatably mounting a wheel upon the upper end of the neck, a rod shiftable vertically through the stem and the support, a gripper carried by the upper end of said rod and fitting loosely about the neck and shiftable with the rod into and out of position for clamping a wheel against the upper end of the neck and holding the wheel stationary, a collar about said neck shiftable longitudinally thereon toward and away from a wheel, a cylinder carried by said support with the rod slidable longitudinally through the cylinder, a piston in said cylinder having a shank extending upwardly therefrom about the rod, a sleeve slidable longitudinally in said neck and connected with said shank for movement therewith, fasteners passing through openings formed in said neck and connecting the collar with the sleeve to cause movement of the collar along the neck with the sleeve, valve controlled means for controlling flow of fluid into and out of the cylinder and directing movement of the piston and collar, a treadle bar mounted for vertical tilting movement in the support under the cylinder and en gaged with the lower end of said rod, means for releasably holding the treadle bar depressed with the gripper in position for holding the wheel stationary, and means cooperating with the collar for applying straightening, force to a .wheelas the collar moves toward-the wheel.

9. In a wheel straightener, a support, anupstanding neck carried thereby, a stemcarried by said neck for rotatably mounting a wheel over the upper end of the neck, a rod shiftable vertically through the stem and support with its upper portion protruding from the stem, a gripper carried by the upper end of said rod and shiftable therewith along the stem into and out 10 of position for clamping a wheel against the upper end of the neck and holding the wheel stationary, a collar about said neck shiftable longitudinally thereon-towardand away from a wheel,

means for shifting the rod longitudinally to a position holding the gripper in its gripping position, means for shifting the collar upwardly along the neck toward the wheel, said collar having a circumferentially extending shoulder, and bars having their lower ends resting on the shoulder and their upper ends adapted to bear against a wheel to be straightened and apply a straightening thrust to the wheel as the collar moves upwardly.

LAWRENCE M. DANIEL. 

